The remarkable story of the Kansas City Southern tells of a
company that from day 1 followed its own path, led by a succession of
visionaries who were not afraid to take risks in pursuit of the railroad
company's success.
Without the resources of the
earlier land grant railroads, the Kansas City–based company forged a
unique approach to growing its franchise. It compensated for its modest
size by developing an outsize, personalized commitment to its customers,
suppliers, and rail partners. While larger railroads, with their vast
rail networks, sometimes cajoled customers and smaller railroads into
conforming to their service offerings, Kansas City Southern sought to
develop mutually beneficial relationships with multiple constituents.
Vision Accomplished
is the story of a succession of individuals who through the strength of
their personalities, vision, courage, and character led the railroad
through one perilous situation after another and in so doing crafted a
corporate culture truly unique in the railroad industry. It's a story of
a railroad that by rights should have died dozens of times but
continued to survive and grew to become a major participant in the North
American supply chain.
